Leaf sweeper and loader

ABSTRACT

A leaf sweeper and loader comprising a wheeled hand-guided vehicle having a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted thereon about a transverse axis and a screw mounted for rotation about another transverse axis adjacent the sweeper element. A casing surrounds the screw and having a longitudinal opening through which the leaves and cuttings are directed by a shroud extending from the sweeper element to the casing. A passage extends from one end of the casing to a foraminous housing in which a collapsible bag is positioned to receive the compacted leaves and cuttings.

United States Patent [151 3,704,477 Bonnis [4 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [s41 LEAF SWEEPER AND Lower:

[72] Inventor: Peter Bonnis, 584 W. Golden Gate, Primary Examiner-Edward L Roberts Detroit, Mich. 48203 [22] Filed: April 1, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 130,220

[52] U.S. Cl. .......15/79 [51] Int. Cl. .....E01h 1/04 [58] Field of Search ..l5l79, 83, 84, 348, 349, 352; 56140002 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,853 12/1965 Michael...- ......l5/348 X 3,229,320 1/1966 Cymara ..l5/348 Attorney-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [5 7] ABSTRACT A leaf sweeper and loader comprising a wheeled handguided vehicle having a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted thereon about a transverse axis and a screw mounted for rotation about another transverse axis adjacent the sweeper element. A casing surrounds the screw and having a longitudinal opening through which the leaves and cuttings are directed by a shroud extending from the sweeper element to the casing. A passage extends from one end of the casing to a foraminous housing in which a collapsible bag is positioned to receive the compacted leaves and cuttings.

17 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEE 51972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR. PETER BONNIS FIG. 7

ATTORNE'Y5 LEAF SWEEPER AND LOADER This invention relates to collecting leaves and cuttings and particularly to an apparatus or vehicle for collecting leaves and cuttings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common in the field of landscaping to collect the leaves and cuttings by the use of either hand-propelled or power-propelled vehicles which have rotating sweeper elements thereon. Such devices or vehicles usually utilize a bag or container in which the leaves and cuttings are directed. 7

One of the problems with such devices is that the leaves and cuttings are bulky and frequent emptying of the container is required.

It has heretofore been suggested that screw elements or the like be utilized in connection with the sweeper element to force the leaves or cuttings into the container. However, as far as the present applicant is aware, none of these devices has satisfactorily performed and achieved the desired results.

One of the objects of the invention are to provide a leaf sweeper and loader in which the leaves and cuttings are collected and compacted without jamming into collapsible bags or containers that can be readily attached and removed; wherein the construction is such that jamming or obstruction of the flow of the leaves and cuttings is minimized; which can be readily adapted to presently available leaf sweepers with a minimum of change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The leaf sweeper and loader embodying the invention comprises a wheeled hand-guided vehicle having a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted thereon about a transverse axis and a screw mounted for rotation about another transverse axis adjacent the sweeper element. A casing surrounds the screw and has a longitudinal opening through which the leaves and cuttings are directed by a shroud extending from the sweeper element to the casing. A passage extends from one end of the casing to a foraminous housing in which a collapsible bag is positioned to receive the compacted leaves and cuttings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a leaf sweeper and loader embodying the invention showing the collapsible container removed from the leaf sweeper and loader.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the leaf sweeper and loader taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the leaf sweeper and loader, parts being broken away.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the leaf sweeper and loader embodying the invention is adapted to be attached to a conventional leaf sweeper 10 that comprises a frame 11 including rear wheels 12 and powered front wheels 13. An internal combustion engine 14 is mounted on a bracket 15 supported by the frame 11 and drives a transverse shaft 16 through a belt 17 and pulleys l8, 19 (FIG. 7) and, in turn, the wheels 13 trough gearing (not shown) in accordance with conventional construction. A rotary sweeper element 20 having bristles 21 is fixed to a shaft 22 that extends transversely of the vehicle and is rotated through gearing in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the drive wheels 13.

The vehicle includes a first shroud 23 that directs the leaves and grass cuttings upwardly and a second shroud 24 which further guides the leaves and cuttings into the open upwardly facing end of opening 25 of a semicylindrical casing 26; A screw element 27 is rotatably mounted about a transverse axis within the casing 26 and has a periphery in close engagement with the inner surface of the casing (FIG. 4). 1

As shown in FIG. 2, the screw element 27 has a progressively increasing pitch toward one end 28 of the casing in which an outlet 29 is provided. A pipe 30 is connected to the outlet 29 and extends substantially degrees (FIG. 7) to the inlet of a foraminous housing 31. The cross sectional area of the pipe 30 is generally circular and increases progressively from the outlet 29 into the inlet 32 of the housing 31. The housing 31 comprises two semi-cylindrical screen elements 31a, 31b that are hinged as at 33. The housing element 31a is fastened by a cross bar 34 to the handles 35 of the vehicle 10. The housing element 31b is adapted to be removably connected to the element 31a by closure 35.

A collapsible bag B is removably mounted on the end of the tube 30 within the container 31 by a structure which includes an undulating member 36 that surrounds the tube providing air passages 37 covered by a screen 37a and a rubber band 38 which engages a ring 39 and holds the end of the bag on the end of the tube In operation, as the vehicle is moved along the ground, it is guided by grasping the handles and the sweeper element 20 picks up the leaves and grass cuttings and directs them upwardly where they are guided by the shrouds 23, 24 into the opening 25 of the casing 26. The screw 27 progressively compacts the leaves and cuttings and moves them axially through the outlet 29 through the tube 30 and into the collapsible bag B.

Since the tube 30 progressively increases in cross sectional area, minimum tendency of jamming or clogging is created. The provision of means for air within the bag B to be forced outwardly through spaces 37 and screen 37a as the leaves and cuttings displace the air in the bag provides for full use of the volumetric capacity of the bag. When the bag is filled, the cover or housing element 31b is opened, the band 38 removed permitting the bag B to be lifted out of the housing and a new bag to be inserted in its place.

The casing 26 includes an inclined edge 26a at one end of opening 25 which has the same inclination as the endn'iost convolution 27a of screw 27 along which the end of screw 27 translates to shear any leaves and cuttings and thereby minimize any tendency to clogging.

lclaim:

l. The combination comprising a wheeled hand-guided vehicle,

a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element engages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground,

a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element,

a casing having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw,

shroud means extending from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw,

a foraminous housing mounted ,on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereof,

said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings,

passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing,

means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means drivingly interconnecting the sweeper element and the screw.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means on the vehicle for rotating said sweeper element.

'4. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means on said vehicle for rotating said sweeper element in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the wheels of the vehicle as the vehicle is moved along the ground.

'5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said screw has a progressively increasing pitch toward the outlet of the casing.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said passage has progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said housing.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a removable wall of said container.

9. The combination comprising a wheeled hand-guided vehicle,

a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element engages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground, a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element,

a casing having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw;

shroud means extending from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw,

a foraminous housing mounted on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereof,

said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings,

passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing,

means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing,

said screw having a progressively increasing pitch toward-the outlet of the casing,

said passage having progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said'housing,

said housing having readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.

10. For use with a wheeled hand-guided vehicle having a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element en gages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground, the improvement comprising a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element,

a casing adapted to be mounted on said vehicle having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw,

shroud means adapted to be mounted on said vehicle and extend from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw,

a foraminous housing adapted to be mounted on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereof,

said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings, I

passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing,

means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said screw has a progressively increasing pitch toward the outlet of the casing.

12. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said passage has progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said housing.

13. The combination set forth in claim wherein said housing has readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.

. 14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a removable wall of said container.

15. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action in the leaves and cuttings.

16. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action on the leaves and cuttings.

17. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action on the leaves and cuttings. 

1. The combination comprising a wheeled hand-guided vehicle, a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element engages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground, a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element, a casing having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw, shroud means extending from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw, a foraminous housing mounted on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereoF, said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings, passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing, means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means drivingly interconnecting the sweeper element and the screw.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means on the vehicle for rotating said sweeper element.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means on said vehicle for rotating said sweeper element in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the wheels of the vehicle as the vehicle is moved along the ground.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said screw has a progressively increasing pitch toward the outlet of the casing.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said passage has progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said housing.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a removable wall of said container.
 9. The combination comprising a wheeled hand-guided vehicle, a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element engages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground, a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element, a casing having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw, shroud means extending from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw, a foraminous housing mounted on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereof, said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings, passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing, means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing, said screw having a progressively increasing pitch toward the outlet of the casing, said passage having progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said housing, said housing having readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.
 10. For use with a wheeled hand-guided vehicle having a rotary sweeper element rotatably mounted on the vehicle for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of the vehicle such that the element engages leaves and cuttings and the like as the vehicle is moved along the ground, the improvement comprising a feed screw mounted for rotation about a transverse axis on the vehicle adjacent the sweeper element, a casing adapted to be mounted on said vehicle having a longitudinal opening therein surrounding said screw, shroud means adapted to be mounted on said vehicle and extend from the sweeper element to said screw for guiding leaves and the like from said sweeper element through the longitudinal opening to said screw, a foraminous housing adapted to be mounted on said vehicle and having inlet opening adjacent one end thereof, said casing having an outlet adjacent one end thereof through which the screw feeds the leaves and cuttings, passage means interconnecting the outlet of said casing and the inlet of said housing, means releasably connecting a collapsible container to the inlet of said housing within said housing whereby upon operation of said sweeper element and said screw, the leaves and cuttings are compacted and delivered to the flexible container within said housing.
 11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said screw has a progressively increasing pitch toward the outlet of the casing.
 12. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said passage has progressively increasing cross sectional area from the outlet of said casing to the inlet of said housing.
 13. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing has readily removable and replaceable wall portions for gaining access to said collapsible container.
 14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a removable wall of said container.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action in the leaves and cuttings.
 16. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action on the leaves and cuttings.
 17. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said casing includes an inclined edge at one end of said opening which has the same inclination as the endmost convolution of said screw cooperates with said convolution of said screw to provide a shearing action on the leaves and cuttings. 